Amazing gross incompetence - Zupps Mt Gravatt

[seldo]

My mate has had on-going issues with his current Grange with transmission problems. Every time he goes on a trip, or has to spend a long time crawling in traffic, the transmission goes into limp-mode and stays locked in, I think it's 5th gear. Just jams in 5th and won't change up or down until you let it sit for 15 mins to cool down, and reset by turning ignition on and off several times.
He's had it back to Zupps at Mt Gravatt here in Brisbane probably 10 times complaining about this specific issue. They have fitted an external oil-cooler, several re-flashes of software, oil-level checks, and last time, a new torque converter, all to no avail, and in fact it has been getting worse.
This morning we took it to Fulcrum suspension to discuss some shock-absorber issues, and having a look underneath on the hoist, the transmission problem immediately became obvious, even to my non-mechanically-minded mate.
Some genius first-day apprentice has fitted the oil-coooler and connected it to the original in-tank cooler in the bottom of the radiator........but has disconnected the pipes from the transmission to the radiator and just connected one to the other with a "U"-shaped loop of hose !!
So, now the transmission oil travels from the transmission, down the pipe to the U-hose and back to the transmission, completely by-passing both the original radiator-cooler and the new external cooler which does absolutely nothing since it's not even in the oil-circuit .
If it wasn't so bloody frustrating and stupid it would be funny.
So, guess who will not be back to Zupps for his next (4th) Grange.

[seldo]

See if this piccie works...

[C4B]

I'd be wanting a new tranny after that..... Surely the box must have sustained damage through so many overheating events......

[SSer]

All I can say is wow. I'm no mechanic, but that is truly impressive. It will be interesting to see how the transmission has coped with not getting supplied cooled oil for so long. I'm guessing he has been taking it easy since the problem started though? Lets hope limp mode has saved it, or if not Zupps come to the party and replace anything damaged.

Its disappointing when this sort of thing happens. You hand your pride and joy over expecting a professional to work on it, or at least look over the work being done to double check it. I hope your mate gets a good outcome from it all.

[seldo]

Fortunately he's an old sheila and doesn't drive it hard, so I'd be surprised if there's trannie damage, although could be hardened seals which may eventually fail.
I agree that he should ask for a new trans, but problem is, with the level competence that they've displayed so far, would you take your car back to them for yet another go...?

[Quark]

Wow! Just wow! That's gibbering incompetence! And how many times has that been missed when it's been returned? Got to wonder if he's pissed somebody off and they've done it deliberately, as there's so many multiples of stupid there.

Hard to believe the box won't have a significantly shortened service life. Take it up with the dealer principal and escalate to Holden if not satisfied.

[XUV]

get them to fix it and give you an extended warranty

and just a quick question was it shuddering in stop start traffic ?

[CLUBRED]

I won't comment with regard to Zupps MtGravatt, let me just say I'll never set foot in the place ever again either, did I say never...

[VYBerlinaV8]

I'd be contacting Holden directly, including photos and records of the times it was in being fixed/serviced, and request that they arrange a different dealer to resolve the issue, given that you have no confidence in Zupps.

[IJ.]

I'd be contacting Holden directly, including photos and records of the times it was in being fixed/serviced, and request that they arrange a different dealer to resolve the issue, given that you have no confidence in Zupps.

This 100%

I'd be holding out for a replacement Trans that's a joke.

[zorro]

Waits for planetdavo to say that's standard procedure

[aratic]

Was the trans having problems before the cooling circuit was tampered with? Seems strange that if it was having problems before they tried putting the external cooler in then wouldnt that mean, as bad as it is, this isnt causing the problem?

[C4B]

Was the trans having problems before the cooling circuit was tampered with? Seems strange that if it was having problems before they tried putting the external cooler in then wouldnt that mean, as bad as it is, this isnt causing the problem?

It would indicate an underlying issue to begin with, but by adding the cooler and essentially disconnecting the cooling for the transmission altogether they would have made the problem worse. Presumably the new cooler will now be plumbed so hopefully the issue will be resolved.

[LSavvy]

Waits for planetdavo to say that's standard procedure

Or it's the whinging customers fault.

[seldo]

Was the trans having problems before the cooling circuit was tampered with? Seems strange that if it was having problems before they tried putting the external cooler in then wouldnt that mean, as bad as it is, this isnt causing the problem?

Funnily enough, the problems worsened after they "fixed" it with the addition of the trans cooler....
What really astounds me is that if they have had it up in the air 10 times to try to "fix" it, how have they not seen the glaringly obvious stuff-up? It used to only play up after a 300km highway trip, or working it hard up a windy, hilly climb with lots of changes up and down through the gears, and accelerating out of slow corners. As soon as they tried to fix it, it began to play up after 30 mins in peak-hour traffic.
After 10 attempts to fix it, how could they possibly not see this? FFS! Did they ever really do anything, or just park it in the corner for the day and say it's now fixed...